Maguila Controls Degenerative Disease with Cannabidiol
Who would be the winner in a hypothetical duel between George Foreman and Daniel Falconi? What if the confrontation was between the Argentine fighter and Mike Tyson? Imagining what those fights would have been like is a daily pastime for Maguila. At 64 years old, Jose Adilson Rodrigues dos Santos, known as Maguila, enjoys idealizing challenges between great names in the history of world boxing. While he lets himself be carried away by his imagination, the most successful heavyweight in Brazilian boxing exercises his memory with an activity that is very important for the treatment of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as dementia pugilistica, which he has struggled with for years. However, Maguila was not always able to live well with the disease caused by traumas to the brain, especially due to the difficulty of getting a proper diagnosis. In 2010, he received an initial diagnosis of Alzheimer's, a fact that not only hindered the beginning of his treatment but also the prescription of the best medicines. Four years ago, Irani chose to continue her husband's treatment at the Anjos de Deus Therapeutic Center, a clinic in Itu, in the countryside of Sao Paulo, where the former boxer is hospitalized. "We tried to keep him at home, but we couldn't because he didn't cooperate [when it was time to take his] medication", she says. In addition, the lawyer noted that her husband was more agitated, with less appetite, and "with a distant look, kind of lost, you know? We talked to him and he seemed a little disconnected from reality". At the clinic, along with specialized care, the former boxer had cannabidiol included in his treatment. On a daily basis, he consumes drops of isolated CBD (cannabidiol), without THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) molecules. The herbal approach was suggested by neurologist Renato Anghinah, Maguila's doctor for over eight years and a specialist in brain concussions. According to the professional, cannabis is fully indicated for disorders such as autism, epilepsy, anxiety, sleep disorders, behavior, and agitation. "Maguila is now very alert, something he was not before, and this change comes from the cannabidiol. He has regained his appetite, which he had lost. And, above all, he is calmer", he says. He rarely has any episodes of aggression these days, says the doctor. "Even his sleep has improved."